Isolated radiant energy control system



2 Sheets-Sheet l J. Y. DUNBAR ET AL ISOLATED RADIANT ENERGY CONTROLSYSTEM Filed March 19, 1945 m52 E; om

S11/www0@ JAMES Y. DUNBAR, ROBERT D. GILPN a NORMAN R. HUSSEY.

KOM ZQCQJOQ Sept. 13, l949 I .ENF 1 1 h 11 llll 1.1 1 1 1 ktm 11111111 111 tmkwzth Septf. 13, 1949, J. Y. DUNBAR ET Al. 2,481,503

ISQLATED RADIANT ENERGY CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 19, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMES Y. DUNBAR, ROBERT D. GILPIN B NORMAN R. HUSSY.

Patented Sept. 13, 1949 'ISOLATED vRADINT ENERGY 'CONTRGL SYSTEM '.IamesY. Dunbar, Robert D. Gilpin, and Norman R. Hussey, United States NavyApplication-March 19, 1945, Serial No. 583,484

(Cl. Z50-2) (Granted under Vthe act of March 3, 1883, as amended April30, 1928; 370 O Gr. 757) Claims.

This Ainvention `relates generally to `a remote control system, and moreparticularly to the radiant energy controlledltype, isolatedfrom enemyjamming and locai interference for use in controlling robot `planes 'andbombs.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a radiant energyremote control system, wherein thereception of radiant energy isinsensitive to signals from any point ahead of the line of flight.

Another object'of `this yinvention is to provide a radiant energy remoteVcontrol system in which the vibratile control elements are isolatedfrom airborne sound, vibration, and shock.

A further object of this invention is to provide a'radiantenergyremotecontrol system inwhich changes in carrier wave 'frequency do not affectoperation.

'A still further :object of this invention is to provide a radiantenergy lremote rcontrol system responsive to selected controlfrequencies.

Another object of rthis invention is to provide a mechanical devicefthat builds upa large amplitude response to weak energy impressions.

Anotherobject `of this inventionis to provide a method fordirecting arobot to atarget.

Another object of this invention =is to provide a resonantelectro-mechanical switch.

The invention will now be described withreference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which: Fig. Lis a Wiring diagram of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a'front elevational view of the reed tube;

rFig. 3 is a side elevational .view -o'f the reed tube;

Fig. 4 is a bottom View of Fig. 3; and

Fig. '5 is a bottom view of an octal socket for tube of Fig. 2.

A dipole directional antenna l is grounded through coil 2. Said Acoil 2is inductively coupled With tank vcircuit coil '3 of the regenerativedetector '4. The tank coil 3 is center tapped at 5 so asto include aportion of said coil 6 in the plate circuit "l, leaving the remainder 3in the grid circuit '9. The magnetic coupling 'between the two portionsof the coil 3, namely the plate circuit portion 5 and the grid circuitportion 8, provides the regenerative feedback. Said feedback can beadjusted by moving the position of thetap on said coil 3. The resistanceI@ and the condenser Il, in parallel in thefgrid circuit, enable thetriode l2 to be used as a detector without the use ofa C battery. Saidgrid leak resistance and condensermaintain the grid bias at a propernegative potential "for detection by Well known principles of grid leakbiasing. The plate circuit leading from vsaid regenerative detector 4 isconnected to a T type radio frequency 'ilter I3 composed of radio'frequency choke coils I4 and l5 and a grounded radio frequency bypass.condenser I6. The cathode 4Il' of said triode l2 is grounded. Theoutput terminal of said choke input iilter I3 is connected to theprimary H3 of transformer I9, and the potentiometer A20, .in series.Potentiometer moving contact 2l .controls the ypotential in the platecircuit by selectively varying the resistance 22. One end ofthepotentiometer resistance `'/22 is grounded lat 23, and the other end isconnected .tothepositive terminal of grounded battery 24, with aresistance anda switch 26, in series, therebetween.

'The secondary'Zl of transformer I9 haswone ,of its output terminalsconnected to the grid .and theother terminal to the cathode `of triode128. Resistor 29 is connected across secondary rv2l. Cathode resistor 30with shunt capacitor 3l are connected to cathode of triode .2,8andgrounded at ,32.

The plateof 'triode 28 is connected to one of the primary -coil 3?terminals of transformer 134. The other of said primary coil terminalsis connected to contact `of switch 26.

Current 'for `the tube heater elements '36 and .31 .is suppliedvby abattery 94 which is electrical-- ly connected thereto, and also groundedat 38. Swith ,39, .inserted inthe heater circuit, -controls the currenttherein.

Secondary 40 rof transformer 34 has one of its ends connected toterminal 4| ,and the other end to terminal .42 .of boX `v43. Saidterminals-4| and 4.2 pass ,through the wallof acoustic isolation box 43,vso that theyserve as terminals on the inside ofthe -boX as well as onlthe outsideof said box.

'I'he acoustic isolation box 43 is rdesigned in the conventional mannerto isolate the following vacuum tube and relay switches, to be mountedtherein, from airborne sound, vibration and shock.

Tube44 consists of anenvelope45 mounted'on f an octal base y45 to fit astandardoctal socket.

' operating relation with the free ends of reeds 54, 55, 56 and 51,respectively. Said support 53 is of non-conducting material and mountedto base 41 by any usual means. The yoke contacts 49, 58, 5| and 52 areelectrically connected to base pins 58, 59, B6 and 6|, respectively, inthe usual vacuum tube manner. Electromagnet 62, securely mounted onheavy base 41, and separated therefrom by insulator 63, is positioned inclose proximity to said ferrous reeds so that the reeds can bemagnetically actuated thereby. Said electromagnet is electricallyconnected to base pins 64 and 65 in the usual vacuum tube manner, thenceto terminals 4| and 42 for outside connections.

The reeds 54, 55, 56 and 51 have a natural mounted frequency of 8, 10,12 and 15 cycles per second, respectively. However, reeds of any othernatural frequency can also be used. All of Said elements are mounted ina vacuum. The damping caused by air is thus removed and the resonancecurve of the reed becomes very sharp, so that several reeds may havenatural frequencies very close to each other and operated by a singlemagnet. In such a group only the reed having a frequency the same asthat given to the pulsatingly energized magnet will operate, the othersnot so tuned remaining relatively stationary. It is a physical fact thatif the forcing frequency is the same as the natural frequency of asystem having low damping, very large amplitudes of vibration m'ay beexpected.

When the weak magnetic impulses resulting from weak radiant energy wavesare applied to a reed, the amplitude of the reed progressively increasesuntil contact is made with its associated yoke contact which closes acircuit that energizes and actuates a relay, with or Without a timedelay mechanism. A motor is thereby operated which controls the controlsurfaces of a robot flying apparatus.

The assembled tube 44 is inserted in a standard octal socket that issuspended in acoustic isolation box 43 so that the natural frequency ofthe suspension is well below that of any of the reeds, thereby insuringthat no false impression of the reeds from undesirable sources can takeplace.

Within this same acoustic box 43 are mounted four relay switches 96, E1,68 and 69 of conventional construction, which control motors 10 and 1|located outside said acoustic box 43. Relay 66 controls motor 1|] inclockwise direction; relay 61, in counter-clockwise direction. Relay 68controls motor 1| in clockwise direction; relay 69, in counter-clockwisedirection.

Electromagnet base pins 54 and 65 are connected across secondary coilterminals 4| and 42.

Conductor 12 electrically connects contact 13 of switch 39 with reedbase 41, through pin terminal 48. Grounded moving coils 14, 15, 16 and11 are electrically connected to pin terminals 6|, 60, 59 and 58,respectively. In other words, the reeds 54, 55, 56 and 51, theirassociated yoke contacts 44, 50, 5| and 52, and their related relaymoving coils 14, 15, 16 and 11, respectively, are connected in parallelacross battery 94.

Relay armatures 18, 19, 8|] and 8| with their associated xed contacts82, 83, 84 and 85, and their related motor reversing field coils 86, 81,88 and 89, respectively, are connected in parallel across battery 94.

Motors 1U and 1|, with their paired reversing coils 86, 81, 88 and B9,respectively, are located outside of box 43 and are connected to theirassociated relays 65, 61, 68 and 69 through means of contacts 98, 9|, 92and 93, respectively, which pass through the walls of said box 43 andserve as terminals inside as well as outside of said box. The reversiblemotors 1U and 1| are mechanically connected to those elements of a robotplane or bomb that control the vertical and horizontal control surfacessuch as elevators or rudders.

Operation A transmitter generates and modulates or interrupts theradio-frequency power that its associated antenna converts intoelectromagnetic radiation. The carrier Wave is amplitude modulated to aconstant frequency of 8, 10, 12, or 15 cycles per second. Otherfrequencies may be used depending on the natural frequencies of theresponding reeds used in the receiver. In this construction, the reeds54, 55, 56 and 51 have a responding natural frequency of 8, 10, 12 and15, respectively.

As the transmitted radiant energy wave cuts across the dipoledirectional antenna I, a similar voltage is generated in the antennaground system, consisting of antenna l, coil 2, and ground. This systemis connected to the regenerative detector 4 by means of transformercoupling between antenna coil 2 and tank circuit coil 3. Dipoledirectional antenna is insensitive to signals from any point ahead ofthe line of flight, thereby insuring freedom from jamming or enemyinterference.

The output of regenerative detector 4 is fed into filter |3 wherein theaudio frequency is separated from the radio frequency.

The audio frequency output from lter |'3 is fed into couplingtransformer I9 which feeds into amplifier 28.

Said amplified signal is transformer coupled to and fed into reed switchtube 44, through means of coupling transformer 34.

As the audio frequency voltage energizes electromagnet 62, magneticimpulses are applied to the reeds 54, 55, 56 and 51, having naturalfrequencies of 8, l0, 12 and 15 cycles per second, respectively. Thesending station transmits a wave modulated at any of these frequencies.If the transmitted impulse is 10 cycles per second, only reed 54 havinga natural frequency of 10 cycles per second will respond in resonance,contact will be made with its associated yoke contact 49, relay switch64 energized and actuated to a closed position, motor 1| startedthereby, and the control surfaces of a plane or robot actuated in a waythat will result in the plane or robot ascending up Similarly, a planeor robot can be controlled to move down, left or rightj through means ofcorresponding circuits disclosed.

The reed switch tube 44 is mounted in an acoustic isolation box 43, toisolate the reeds from airborne sound stimulation.

The switch tube v44 is additionally isolated from interference bysuspending it on shock absorbing and vibration damping means, such aslight springs, to prevent the reeds being influenced by extraneousforces. 'I'he natural frequency of the suspension is well below that ofany of the reeds, so that no false operation of the reeds fromundesirable sources takes place.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposesWithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What I claim is:

l. In a radiant energy remote control system having a transmitter fortransmitting radiant energy signals of predetermined frequencies; an

airborne object having control surfaces; a directional receiving antennamounted on said airplane, insensitive to signals from any point ahead ofthe line of flight; and a detector coupled to said antenna; thecombination, comprising: an evacuated envelope; a plurality of reedsmounted therein, having natural frequencies corresponding to the signalfrequencies; isolating means surrounding said envelope to isolateagainst airborne sound, vibration, and shock; an electromagnetenergizable by the output of said detector for vibrating said reeds;contact means engaged by the reeds when the vibration reaches apredetermined amplitude; a plurality of relays controlled by saidcontact means; and a plurality of motors controlled by said relays foractuating said control surfaces.

2. In a radiant energy remote control system, having means fortransmitting radiant energy signals of predetermined frequencies; aflying object having control surfaces; and means for receiving anddetecting said radiant energy signals mounted on said flying object,insensitive to signals from any point ahead of the line of flight; thecombination, comprising: an evacuated envelope; Vibratile means havingnatural frequencies corresponding to said signal frequencies mountedtherein; isolating means for isolating said Vibratile means againstairborne sound, Vin bration and Shock; contact means engageable by saidvibratile means, respectively; electromagnetic means energizable by saidreceived signal, for actuating said vibratile means into engagement withsaid contact means; and external circuits actuated by the engagement ofsaid vibratile means and said contact means for controlling said controlsurfaces.

3. In a radiant energy remote control system having means fortransmitting a radiant energy signal; a movable object having controlmeans; and means for receiving said radiant energy signal mounted onsaid movable object, insensitive to signals from any point ahead of theline of movement; the combination, comprising: vibratile means havingnatural frequencies corresponding to the frequencies of said signal;contact means engageable by said vibratile means; electromagnetic meansenergizable by said signal for actuating said vibratile means intoengagement with said contact means; and operating circuit means, adaptedto be connected to said control means, operable by the said engagementfor controlling said movable object.

4. In a remote control radiant energy receiver having a receivingantenna responsive to signals of a predetermined frequency from apredetermined direction and a detector coupled to said antenna, thecombination comprising: an evacuated envelope; a plurality of reedsmounted therein, having natural frequencies corresponding to said signalfrequencies; a plurality of contacts positioned within said envelope andengageable by said reeds, respectively; isolating means surrounding saidenvelope to isolate against airborne sound, vibration and shock; anelectromagnet energizable by the output of said detector for vibratingsaid reeds electromagnetically; and external circuits actuated by theengagement of any one of said reeds with its associated contact when thevibration reaches a predetermined amplitude.

5. In a remote control radiant energy receiver having means forreceiving modulated radiant energy responsive to signals from apredetermined direction, the combination comprising: vibra tile meanshaving natural frequencies corresponding to the frequencies of themodulation components of said radiant energy; contact means engageableby said vibratile means, respectively; electromagnetic means energizableby said received radiant energy for actuating said vibratile means; andexternal circuits operable by the engagement of said contact means andsaid vibratile means.

JAMES Y. DUNBAR. ROBERT D. GILPIN. NORMAN R. HUSSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,002,903 Davison Sept. 12, 19111,514,699 Hanson Nov. 11, 1924 1,597,416 Mirick Aug. 24, 1926 1,860,285Gunn May 24, 1932 1,984,379 Mirick Dec. 18, 1934 2,043,746 Garstang June9, 1936 2,109,475 Fanning Mar. 1, 1938 2,118,930 Lilja May 31, 19382,160,056 Brandt May 30, 1939 2,325,829 Boswau Aug. 3, 1943 2,340,798Deal Feb. 1, 1944 2,397,088 Clay Mar. 26, 1946

